INTERVIEW
Library leadership: what does it means in a time of disruption?
The editors of a new book on leadership across various library sectors and countries share some of the insights with Information Professional’s Rob Mackinlay.
MARGARET Weaver, former Director of Library and Learning and Resources at Birmingham City University and Leo Appleton, Senior University Teacher at the University of Sheffield’s Information School are both editors and contributors to Facet’s Bold Minds: Library lead- ership in a time of disruption. In this Q&A they start with a look at the book’s relevance to the Covid-19 crisis: Covid-19 has meant all library leaders have had to completely re-conceive their services in very short timescales and with no blueprint for how this might work safely in practice. As we know, all the uncer- tainties caused by the virus are present in workplaces, and libraries are not exempt. Indeed, organisations have relied on their library staff to lead and make decisions to ensure that services can be sustained in a Covid-secure manner, supporting the business bottom line. Libraries have not been found wanting in this respect, and the crisis response highlights the importance of strong leadership, especially in embracing digital.
The reaction to Covid has illustrated the flexibility and innovation of libraries when faced with unprecedented, swift change, and the ideas in the book can be applied to multi- ple complex leadership scenarios.
Leo Appleton: The sudden need to pivot how services operate and establish how to work effectively with and in parent institu- tions meant that library leaders and managers had to demonstrate excellent situational lead- ership. Library leaders all over the world have had to make difficult and measured decisions
18 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
Rob Mackinlay (
rob.mackinlay@
cilip.org.uk) is a senior reporter for Information Professional.
in respect of sustaining, and in many cases, continuing to develop services, whilst consid- ering the needs and requirements of users, staff and stakeholders. Libraries are known for being responsive and flexible, but that is not always easy to manage. Leadership of libraries has never been so important, nor so visible.
Information Professional: The book brings examples from public, academic, health and corporate contexts– are the sec- tors facing different problems? Can they learn from each other?
Margaret Weaver: Through the essays written by leaders from all library sectors and multiple countries the book portrays the voices of strong, experienced leaders. All libraries are facing very similar issues – chal- lenges about articulating their purpose and relevance, economic constraints (or indeed the reverse, huge investment), user behaviour change and consequent expectations, library
December 2020
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